Vaidotas Urbelis @vaidasu

🇱🇹🇺🇸 Defence Policy Director V. Urbelis met with A. Velez-Green, Chief of Staff to the U.S. Under Secretary of War for Policy, in Brussels. They discussed the U.S. force posture review in Europe, NATO 3.0 & Lithuania’s growing role in defending NATO’s Eastern Flank.

Very fruitful and comprehensive exchanges in Lithuania at Presidency, PM office, MoD and MFA, ahead of the 🇱🇹 Presidency of the EU Council. Many thanks to Defence Policy Director Vaidotas Urbelis for his warm welcome. Looking forward to working closely together !

𝐑𝐒𝐌𝐞𝐝 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 | 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞 « 𝐋𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐬 𝐝𝐞 𝐥’𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞 » 🇫🇷🇱🇹 Le 7 octobre, @guillaumeoll, directeur général de la #DGRIS, était présent aux Rencontres stratégiques de la Méditerranée à Toulon. À cette occasion, il a participé à la table ronde « Défendre les flancs de l’Europe, regards croisés de la France et de la Lituanie », aux côtés du directeur de la politique de défense lituanien, @vaidasu. Leurs échanges ont permis de croiser les analyses française et lituanienne de la menace russe et de mettre en lumière une forte convergence de vues sur les enjeux de sécurité du continent : 🔹 La capacité de mobilisation de la Russie, plus rapide que celle des Européens ; 🔹 Le durcissement des opérations hybrides russes, du sabotage à la déstabilisation ; 🔹 Les leviers de la réponse européenne, des capacités nationales à l’industrie de défense. Pour la Lituanie comme pour la France, ces opérations visent à fragiliser les sociétés européennes et leur soutien à l’Ukraine. Ils ont également rappelé que les évolutions sur d’autres théâtres, du Moyen-Orient à l’Indopacifique, ont des conséquences directes sur les intérêts et la sécurité de l’Europe. Face à ces évolutions, la France et ses partenaires européens doivent renforcer leur capacité à agir ensemble, sur l’ensemble des flancs du continent et dans la durée. Les Rencontres stratégiques de la Méditerranée sont organisées par @InstitutFMES. Ce rendez-vous réunit chaque année décideurs civils, militaires et industriels autour des grands enjeux de sécurité. #RSMed @Armees_Gouv @francediplo @FranceLituanie @Lithuanian_MoD

Over the next two days, Poland and Lithuania will be the first countries to sign SAFE loan agreements. These two plans alone are over €50 billion, to close critical capability gaps and keep our Eastern flank safe. With SAFE, we are strengthening our defence industry all across Europe. Delivering the capabilities we need. Faster, together and at scale.

This evening, near the @USEmbVilnius, Lithuanian people honor the American soldiers who tragically lost their lives in Pabradė: the area is covered with candles and flowers. The tragic incident has shaken us all to the depths of our hearts. These soldiers will never be forgotten.

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@vaidasu, Defence Policy Director at @Lithuanian_MoD, joins #HDF2025 in Feb 2025! 🌏🇱🇹 A key voice in @NATO, the #EU & #globalsecurity, he brings 20+ years of expertise in #defensestrategy & #internationalsecurity. 🔗 pacforum.swoogo.com/hdf-2025 #PacificForum #DefensePolicy

This week, at a key @US_EUCOM strategic conference in Ramstein, 🇱🇹Defence Policy Director @vaidasu stressed that Russia is deterred only by a visible military presence on the ground. He emphasised the vital role of US troops in Europe & the need for strong transatlantic efforts.

Congratulations, SecDef @PeteHegseth 🇺🇸 We deeply appreciate the unwavering support the U.S. provides to Lithuania. Being on the northern eastern border of NATO, we do not take freedom for granted. LT defense spending will reach 4% in 2025, and we aim for at least 5% in 2026-2030. We believe NATO must be recalibrated to fight against russia tonight if needed. US forces on the ground in 🇱🇹 is an indispensable factor to deter any aggressor. As the only DefMin sanctioned by China, I’m proud to say we stand our ground here as well. We safeguarded 🇱🇹 from dangerous 🇨🇳 investment. No other European country has such defense cooperation with #Taiwan as we do. Our partnership with the #US has been tested in the hottest theatres worldwide, and we are ready to work shoulder-to-shoulder in the future. #StrongerTogether

Pete Hegseth @PeteHegseth

2 years ago

Thank you for your confidence Mr. President. Thank you for the tie-breaker Mr. Vice President. Thank you Senators for 50 votes. This is for the troops. For the warriors. For our country. America First. Every day. We will never back down. 🇺🇸

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🇱🇹DefMin @DSakaliene congratulates @PeteHegseth on his appointment as 🇺🇸Secretary of Defense. We fully support his vision to ensure fair burden-sharing among Allies. Lithuania stands ready to uphold its commitments and has decided to raise defence spending to at least 5% of GDP.

Dovilė Šakalienė @DSakaliene

2 years ago

Congratulations, SecDef @PeteHegseth 🇺🇸 We deeply appreciate the unwavering support the U.S. provides to Lithuania. Being on the northern eastern border of NATO, we do not take freedom for granted. LT defense spending will reach 4% in 2025, and we aim for at least 5% in

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The Lithuanian MoD expresses its solidarity with employees of the Ministry of Defence of Sakartvelo who stated their commitment to the European and Euro-Atlantic integration. @ModGovGe

🇸🇪 government today decided to reject the applications of 13 offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea, while granting one (Poseidon) on the Swedish west coast. The reaction time in the event of a missile attack could go from 2 minutes to 60 seconds with wind farms in the way. (1/4)

🇱🇹🇨🇦Canada's new Defence Attaché to Lithuania, Colonel Philippe Sauvé, was accredited today. Canada is an essential part of the transatlantic link which is fundamentally important for European security and stability. We look forward to strengthening our bilateral cooperation.

Given that all Nordic-Baltic (NB) countries have demonstrated willingness to enhance cooperation on security issues w/ partners in the Indo-Pacific, we established NB Dialogue on Defence Cooperation. The first Political Director level meeting is taking place in Vilnius this week.

Participating in the EU Defence Policy Directors meeting today, 🇱🇹Policy Director @vaidasu emphasized Lithuania's long-term support for Ukraine. We commit to allocate 0.25% of our GDP for this purpose. Strengthening Ukraine's defence industry & addressing urgent needs is crucial.

🇺🇦Strengthening support to Ukraine through 🇬🇧Interflex mission in the UK. 🇱🇹Lithuania is committed to training at least 400 Ukrainian troops in the Operation Interflex this year.

Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 @DefenceHQ

3 years ago

Over 33,000 Ukrainian recruits have now been trained on Operation Interflex in frontline battlefield skills. Since June 2022 the UK and ten partner nations have joined forces to deliver the training to help Ukraine defend its homeland. 🇺🇦🤝🌍

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We honor the courage and determination of the 🇱🇹Lithuanian people, who on this day 33 years ago stood up to Soviet aggression and bravely defended and restored Lithuania’s independence. We are #StrongerTogether. Ginklo Broliai!

Full support to our Allies and Partners responding to Houthi attacks against maritime traffic. Such terrorist attacks can not go unanswered. Maritime security and freedom of navigation must be upheld.

We had a great discussion yesterday at the @ACScowcroft Center with the defense policy directors from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Soldiers and Airmen from the @PANationalGuard joined our partners in @LTU_Army recently to begin planning for Engineer Thunder 2023, an upcoming exercise between the Pa. National Guard and Lithuanian army engineers. 📸: Capt. Nathaniel Curtis

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Today, 🇱🇹@Lithuanian_MoD Policy Director @vaidasu attended the #NATO Defence Policy Directors meeting in Belgium. Lithuania underscores strengthening defence and deterrence in the NATO Eastern Flank, including air & missile defence and prepositioning of equipment & ammunition.